The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

PART I.] THE FRENCH WAR. 185
TO GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE.
Mount Vernon, 23 September, 1756.
SIR,
Under your kind indulgence I came to this place a
few days ago, expecting to meet the executors of my
deceased brother, in order to make a final settlement of
his affairs. I was disappointed in this design, by the
Assembly having called away the principal persons concerned.
I shall remark, in obedience to your request, such
things relating to the Virginia regiment as occur to me
now, and require the Assembly's attention; and if any
thing, further presents itself, I shall communicate it from
Winchester, for which place I shall set out this afternoon. I have often urged, for one thing, the necessity
of enforcing the articles of war in all their parts, where
it is not incompatible with the nature of this service. I
have been surprised, as often as I have reflected upon this
subject, and really cannot devise any reason, why the
Assembly should be so much averse to fixed rules for
the regulation of their forces, of which long experience
in established armies fully evinces the necessity. My
surprise is yet increased, when I consider how cautiously
worded the act of Parliament is, to preserve the rights
and liberties of the people against the arbitrary proceedings of the military officers.
We are under a kind of regulation at present, that
renders command extremely difficult and precarious, as
no crimes, I believe, are particularly noticed in the act
of Assembly, except mutiny and desertion, notwithstanding there are many others equally punishable by
act of Parliament.
One thing more, which particularly requires attention, is the billeting, quartering, and dieting of soldiers
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